This week I would like to talk about two very special wines. The first is called Conundrum: a branch of wine belonging to the Caymus Family. Conundrum lives up to its name, piecing together distinctive white varietals for a truly unique, lively, and full flavor. This riddle in a bottle is the conjured up by combining Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, and Viognier, and then fermenting roughly one fourth of each harvest in stainless steel barrels while the rest is aged in both new and seasoned oak. Aromatic to the senses, the nose is greeted by scents of green apple, tangerine, and sweet white flowers; flavors of stone fruit, ripe melon, and citrus – balanced with hints of vanilla – accompany the crisp scents. Full acidity and a creamy texture on the mid-palate make Conundrum a great aperitif or complement to salads, spicy fare, and even fruit desserts.

A Pinot Noir worth talking about, Meiomi (pronounced May-oh-mee), was chosen to represent the varietal’s source and the name is derived from the word for “coast” in the indigenous language spoken by the Wappo and Yuki – tribes native to California. The abundant choices presented along California’s cool, lengthy Pacific coastline are the varietals from which Meiomi’s profile is drawn. The wine is a blend of Pinot Noir grapes grown in Sonoma, Monterey, and Santa Barbara Counties. What I liked most about this wine are its layers of complexity that take Meiomi’s richness to an even more satiable – but not serious – level, one layer being a mild hint of earthy flavor that I find rare for California Pinots. This wine is near to perfection for what it is: a luscious, fruit-forward, full-bodied Pinot Noir that I promise is a definite crowd pleaser. Meiomi’s color, smell, and flavor work together marvelously. It is a bright but deep garnet with notes of cola, blackberries, and a sweet cedar. The rich flavor is velvety and easy on the palette. Layers of ripe cherry, cola are unloaded and then balanced by undertones of dried leaves and vanilla, with leather and high-style oak. The many layers emerge